Impact-resistant container for liquids

ABSTRACT

A container for fluids, particularly for liquids to be subjected to extreme impact forces, for example, as created by free fall from an aircraft in flight, which container is formed from a thermoplastic synthetic resin or similarly elastic material, and including an improved filling and drain construction comprising a substantially rigid pipe section secured to an opening in the wall of the container and extending outwardly therefrom, which pipe section has a wall thickness which decreases over its length in the direction of the interior of the container, and a thinwalled tubular section secured at the opening in the wall of the container and extending inwardly for a substantial distance, two lateral edges of the tubular section being welded to flatten the thin-walled member and cause the tubular section to function as a check valve.

United States Patent Richard Weiss Troisdorf;

Alfred Romanowski, Kleineichen; Manfred Simm; Heinrich B. Strack, Troisdorf, all of.

[72] Inventors Germany [21 1 Appl. No 799,842 [221 Filed Feb. 17,1969 [45] Patented June 1, I97] [73] Assignee Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft Troisdorf, Germany [32] Priority Feb. 22, 1968 [3 3 Germany {54] IMPACT-RESISTANT CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance AttarneyCraig, Antonelli, Stewart and Hill ABSTRACT: A container for fluids, particularly for liquids to be subjected to extreme impact forces, for example, as created by free fall from an aircraft in flight, which container is formed from a thermoplastic synthetic resin or similarly elastic material, and including an improved filling and drain construction comprising a substantially rigid pipe section secured to an opening in the wall of the container and extending outwardly therefrom, which pipe section has a wall thickness which decreases over its length in the direction of the interior of the container, and a thin-walled tubular section secured at the opening in the wall of the container and extending inwardly for a substantial distance, two lateral edges of the tubular section being welded to flatten the thin-walled member and cause the tubular section to function as a check valve.

PATENTED JUN Hen 3581; 792

. F lG l INVENTORS RICHARD WEISS- ALFRED ROMANOWSKI MANFRED SIM HEINRICH. 8.3 K

BY M14;

. Q ATTORNEYS l IMPACT-RESISTANT CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In order to provide combat troops surrounded by hostile forces, it is frequently necessary to drop supplies such as arms, food, fuel, medication, etc., from airplanes. Similarly, airdrop of supplies is often resorted to in cases of avalanche, floods, and other disasters resulting in isolation of people or animals.

Generally, the dropping of materials is accomplished by means of parachutes. Under such circumstances, the materials being dropped descend relatively slowly to the ground and, accordingly, the packaging or containerization of the materials is not a serious problem.

In certain situations, however, the use of parachutes to accomplish the airdrop of supplies is unsuitable. For example, the existence of strong windsseverely limits the accuracy which can be'obtained by means of parachute drops. Further, the use of parachutes necessarily entails a rather lengthy descent, which may be undesirable when materials such as fuel or ammunition are being dropped tocombat personnel surrounded by hostile forces and the extended time required for descent by parachute increases the exposure of the supplies to enemy fire.

In such special circumstances, it has been found desirable to drop the supplies by free fall from the aircraft. The freefall method, however, of course creates serious problems as to the packaging or 'conta'inerization of the materials to withstand the extreme impact forces generated upon landing of the materials.

Special containers have been employed for storing liquids such as fuel to be subjected to free fall. Typically, these special containers in use heretofore are formed from materials having high tensile strength and elasticity and have been provided with filling and drain devices constructed in the form of flexible thin-walled tubes of synthetic resinous material. Notwithstanding the special constructionalIfeatures employed, unusually high losses of liquid materials have been experienced,.primarily attributable to failure of the filling and drain valve devices under free fall impact.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedcontainer for-the storage of liquids to be subjected to free fall impact.

Further, it is an object of e present invention to provide a container for the storage of liquids to be subjected to free fall impact which incorporates filling and drain devices which exhibit fewer losses of lesser quantity than devices known heretofore for this purpose. I Finally, it isan object of the present invention to provide an improved container for the storage of liquids to be subjected to free fall impact which includes a filling and drain device which functions simultaneously as a reliable check valve mechanism.

' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing are accomplished, in accordance with the present invention, by the provision of a container body formed from a thermoplastic synthetic resin material or similar material exhibiting great tensile strength and elasticity. The body of the container is provided with an aperture for filling and draining the container. A substantially rigid pipe section is welded to the body of the container the region surrounding the aperture, the pipe section extending outwardly therefrom. The pipe section is constructed with a wall thickness decreasing over the length thereof in the direction of the container. Additionally, a flexible thin-walled tubular member formed from a thermoplastic synthetic resin material is secured at the body of the container in the region surrounding the aperture, the tubular member extending into the interior of the container toa relatively substantial extent of at least 100 mm. The tubular member is welded along two oppositely disposed lateral edges, thereby tending to flatten. same and present passage of liquid therethrough. Additionally, a removable Stopper is provided for selectively blocking passage of liquid through the pipe section, as described in greater detail hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing objects, features and advantages of the container constructed in accordance with the present invention will become more readily apparent from the detailed description of a single embodiment of the present invention as set forth hereinbelow, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 represents an elevational view of one embodiment of a double-walled container constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 represents anaxial section view of the pipe section according to one embodiment of the present invention:

FIG. 3 represents a plan view of the pipe section shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG.4 isa perspective view of an additional stopper with a safety toggle adapted for sealing engagement in the pipe section shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

' DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The main body of the container, as shown in FIG. 1', includes an outer wall 9 and an inner wall 1 (shown in dot-dash lines) spaced therefrom. Outer wall 9 is sealed by means of weldedseam 5; similarly, inner wall 1 is sealed by means of welded seam 2. An opening 4 is formed between seams 5 and 2 A tubular marginal strip 6 is incorporated above seam 5. Marginal strip 6, together with opening 4, forms a convenient handle for carrying the container. Additionally, the internal bore formed in marginal strip 6. accommodates a filling and drain pipe member 7, securely retaining member 7 until such time as it is required for use.

Pipe section 8 is welded between inner wall I and outer wall 9 in the aperture provided therefore. At the outer end of pipe section 8, stopper 11 is inserted, thus sealing pipe section 8. For securely retaining stopper 11 in sealing engagement, toggle member 12 is inserted through aligned apertures in the wall of pipe section 8 and through a cross-bore formed in stopper 11 (shown in FIG. 4).

As illustrated in the enlarged sectional view of FIG. 2 an the plan view of FIG. 3, pipe section 8 includes a straight bore portion 13 extending inward, from the outer end thereof and a conical bore portion 14 widening over its length in the direction of the interior of the container. Viewed in a different manner, it can be seen that the thickness of the wall of the pipe section 8 decreases over the length of the section in the direction of the interior of the container.

The external configuration of pipe section 8, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, tapers to bladelike edges at oppositely disposed points in the central region, lengthwise, of the section. It should further benoted that the external configuration of pipe section 8 is formed such that the entire central portion of the pipe section, as viewed in the lengthwise direction, is welded between inner wall 1 and outer wall 9. These configurational features enhance the secure mounting of the pipe section 8 to the main body of the container.

Tubular section 10 (shown indash lines in FIG. 1) is welded to the container or, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, to the side of conical bore portion 14 of pipe section 8. Whether the tubular section is formed from a solid hose or tube or from a thin sheet folded over upon itself, two oppositely disposed lateral edges thereof are welded, thus ensuring that the tubular section, formed from a thin-walled thermoplastic synthetic resin or similarly relatively flexible material, is flattened under the effect of the ambient pressure in the interior of the container when same is filled with liquid. With tubular section thus completely flattened, the liquid cannot pass through to escape from the container. It is also contemplated, according to the present invention, that tubular section be constructedv of a relatively substantial length, for example, at least mm. This feature precludes the possibility of the section accidentally becoming turned inside out so as to protrude outwardly through pipe section 8. A number of test drops of a liquid-filled container constructed in accordance with the present invention, conducted from heights of between 50 m. and 300 m. have established that the tubular section operates effectively as a check valve preventing leakage of the liquid upon impact.

The details of stopper 11 are shown in FlG. 4. The diameter of the major portion of stopper ll is selected so as to assure sealing engagement within the straight bore portion 13 of pipe section 8. Knob 15.is secured on the outer end of stopper 11 to provide a means for securing a cord or strip, the ends of which may be welded to the exterior of pipe section 8, thus ensuring retention of stopper 11 therein. Further, a cross-bore is provided in the body of stopper 1]. Toggle member 12 may be inserted through aligned apertures provided in the wall of pipe section 8 and through the cross-bore to guarantee retention of stopper 11 in place within pipe section 8. Annular groove 16 is provided on toggle member 12 to serve, in the manner of knob l5, as a means for securing a cord or strip whose ends may be welded to the exterior of pipe section 8 for retaining toggle member 12 and, accordingly, stopper 1] firmly seated within pipe section 8.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as would be obvious to one with normal skill in the pertinent technolo- We claim:

1. A container for storing liquids to be subjected to extreme impact forces, comprising:

wall means defining a filling and drain aperture therein,

substantially rigid pipe section means secured at said wall means surrounding said aperture therein and extending outwardly therefrom, said pipe section means having a wall decreasing in thickness over the length thereof in the direction of said wall means,

the exterior surface of said pipe section means including two oppositely disposed blade edges extending along at least the central portion of the length of said pipe section means,

the wall means including an inner wall and an outer wall spaced therefrom and said central portion ofthe length of said pipe section means being welded between said inner wall and said outer wall, and

thin-walled tubular section means, formed from a relatively flexible material, said tubular section means being fixed relative to said wall means and aligned with said aperture means therein and extending inwardly therefrom, said tubular section means being welded along two oppositely disposed lateral edges thereof.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said tubular section means is at least mm. in length.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said tubular section means are formed from a thermoplastic synthetic resin material.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein said tubular section means is secured to said pipe section means.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein said inner and outer walls are constructed from a thermoplastic synthetic resin material.

6. A container according to claim 5, further comprising removable stopper means adapted for sealing engagement within the outer end of said pipe section means, said stopper means including means for securely retaining said stopper means in sealing engagement within said pipe section means.

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein said stopper means includes a cross-bore formed therein and wherein aligned apertures are formed in the wall of said pipe section means, said means for retaining said stopper means including a toggle member adapted for insertion through said aligned apertures and said cross-bore said toggle member including means for retaining said toggle member securely within sai aligned apertures and said cross-bore. 

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said tubular section means is at least 100 mm. in length.
 3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said tubular section means are formed from a thermoplastic synthetic resin material.
 4. A container according to claim 3, wherein said tubular section means is secured to said pipe section means.
 5. A container according to claim 4, wherein said inner and outer walls are constructed from a thermoplastic synthetic resin material.
 6. A container according to claim 5, further comprising removable stopper means adapted for sealing engagement within the outer end of said pipe section means, said stopper means including means for securely retaining said stopper means in sealing engagement within said pipe section means.
 7. A container according to claim 6, wherein said stopper means includes a cross-bore formed therein and wherein aligned apertures are formed in the wall of said pipe section means, said means for retaining said stopper means including a toggle member adapted for insertion through said aligned apertures and said cross-bore, said toggle member including means for retaining said toggle member securely within said aligned apertures and said cross-bore. 